portfolio

[threedog13]

okay here we go first post im currently studying production at sixth form and will soon be moving on to uni and ive been asked to create a portfolio of all my work but havent a clue where to start any tips on how to kick start it would be greatly appreciated

[Wol]

Try:

 

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=17613

and

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=32404

and

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=31714

and

the search function!

 

I'd also look into investing into the use of some punctuation too. There was not a single piece of punctuation or single capital letter in your post asking for other people to take time to reply to. A quick search around here will show that a lot of the members are quite unforgiving. You've been warned!

[ramdram]

Ref the punctuation thing Wol; my son believes that punctuation is for wimps, despite having more than a handful of GCSEs.

 

He has been reminded on more than a lot of occasions to write as he has been taught, in case he gets mistaken for an intellectual lightweight.

 

The fact you are asking about how to create a portfolio, now, is a tad surprising. You should have been keeping a portfolio and some sort of diary from day one of your production course.

 

You may find this hard to imagine but the folk at "University", who will be conducting your interview, won't have clue who you are or what you have been doing at school. When asked you had better be able to convince them you deserve a place on their course.

 

I trust you are beginning to get the idea? You will discover us "old" people can't be bothered to translate all this "txtspk" and you would do well to consider us "old" people might be employing you in the future.

 

You, it would appear, wish to be employed in a production capacity after leaving University with whatever qualification you might gain...so a TOP TIP, suggest also you get involved in any amdram or college society you can. Were you to read through the many posts on this forum you will see, repeated ad nauseum, that paper qualifications are "not" the universal ticket to a job in "theatreland".

 

When you finally sort out your portfolio then you can add your extra curricular theatrical activities to said portfolio. When you begin the hunt for employment your prospective employer (hopefully) will discover that you have more to offer than just a course/ qualification from University.

[tomo2607]

Ref the punctuation thing Wol; my son believes that punctuation is for wimps, despite having more than a handful of GCSEs.

 

He has been reminded on more than a lot of occasions to write as he has been taught, in case he gets mistaken for an intellectual lightweight.

 

The fact you are asking about how to create a portfolio, now, is a tad surprising. You should have been keeping a portfolio and some sort of diary from day one of your production course.

 

You may find this hard to imagine but the folk at "University", who will be conducting your interview, won't have clue who you are or what you have been doing at school. When asked you had better be able to convince them you deserve a place on their course.

 

I trust you are beginning to get the idea? You will discover us "old" people can't be bothered to translate all this "txtspk" and you would do well to consider us "old" people might be employing you in the future.

 

You, it would appear, wish to be employed in a production capacity after leaving University with whatever qualification you might gain...so a TOP TIP, suggest also you get involved in any amdram or college society you can. Were you to read through the many posts on this forum you will see, repeated ad nauseum, that paper qualifications are "not" the universal ticket to a job in "theatreland".

 

When you finally sort out your portfolio then you can add your extra curricular theatrical activities to said portfolio. When you begin the hunt for employment your prospective employer (hopefully) will discover that you have more to offer than just a course/ qualification from University.

 

 

Listen to this guy, he speaks the truth. I’m 23, studied live audio technology and production (amongst other things) and I’m still trying to claw my way into the industry. I came out of uni with a good level degree and it means squat when it comes to theatre and the entertainment industry. I have now been freelancing and cassying around many theatres for the last 4 years to get as much experience as I can.

 

To put it simply, learn by doing. A piece of paper showing that you have studied something means you’re good at regurgitating what you have read in books. I learnt more in one month in a working environment than I did in 4 years at Uni...

[GaryM]

With help like this 'Threedog13' I bet you can't wait to post another question!!

 

I presume you have covered a number of disciplines under the general heading of production and your portfolio will obviously need to reflect this. For instance, if you have covered lighting, a list of productions (with dates) you have either operated for or designed for would be a good starting point. If you have any lighting plans, cue lists or cue synopsis, or any other lighting documentation for these shows, put these in your portfolio. Photographs showing various interesting lighting states for these productions would be a distinct advantage (it proves that they are real and not just made up!). If you haven't got photo's, but the production was videoed, don't put a copy of the DVD in your portfolio. They won't have time to watch it! Take some frame grabs from the video at key moments. A student of mine recently got into Rose Bruford to study lighting design and he put together an excellent portfolio which included WYSIWYG simulation renderings next to actual performance photo's. This really emphasised his design skills.

 

Obviously, apply the CV production information to other disciplines studied, but think about what production documentation should have been required, or generated for those disciplines. You need to be considering professional practice when doing this. If you haven't got good examples of professional documentation, consider doing it retrospectively, if possible.

 

Include any training/workshops/courses you have been involved in, either at school or elsewhere.

 

Above all, bear in mind that they are not expecting you to be an expert. It's their job to train you. BUT, you need to demonstrate that you are committed and as other posters have already suggested, the best way to show this would be to be involved in extra-curricular production activities in school and at local venues.

 

Hope this is of more use to you and good luck!

[shifty13]

Try:

 

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=17613

and

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=32404

and

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=31714

and

the search function!

 

I'd also look into investing into the use of some punctuation too. There was not a single piece of punctuation or single capital letter in your post asking for other people to take time to reply to. A quick search around here will show that a lot of the members are quite unforgiving. You've been warned!

 

 

wot the hell has punctuation got to do with the question he is asking?

[boswell]

wot the hell has punctuation got to do with the question he is asking?

If you can not write, you can't produce a portfolio QED

[paulears]

wot the hell has punctuation got to do with the question he is asking?

 

As a new member here, you won't be aware that as far as we're concerned - Spelling, punctuation and grammar matter to us - and text speak is out, here!

 

It may be considered old fashioned, but our rules about treating other members with respect extends to all levels. So rather than posting like this, perhaps consider your own posting style.

 

You probably need to read around the forum a little to get a feel for our quaint ways of doing things.

[ramdram]

Ref #6

 

Shifty13...food for thought, yours not ours. Consider this, it applies to you as well the OP, you have no idea at all who reads this forum, most of us don't, so don't feel as though you are being victimised...

 

In your profile you supplied your real name and that of your school (well, let's assume you did) for all the world to see. Supposing, just for the sake of argument, I am an employer and I see your post...I think to myself, hmm, a bit "gobby"...would a bloke like that fit into my team or would he be the barrackroom lawyer?

 

And, again for the sake of argument, one day you apply to my theatre, clutching your qualifications, for the dream job you really want.

 

I run your name through my data base (said database could be installed in my wetware...) and it comes up as gobby, disrespectful...now, where do you suppose your application form gets filed? You would be wise beyond your years to bear in mind there will be many, many, many hopefuls, just like yourself, competing for this position...and anything I can do to weed out applicants is a plus for me.

 

Therefore a word of advice, if you imagine you can post on a forum run by professionals, who expect fellow forum members to behave in a professional, even polite manner to other forum members and be a tad impertinent then I suggest you review your opinion asap.

 

Threedog13 (is it a year thing?) asked a question and was advised that his punctuation/grammar was not acceptable and it was suggested he attend to that as a matter of urgency if he wanted to appear even slightly professional. The fact he had not been keeping a portfolio is another matter which may reflect on his inattention at school...and may be regretted in the years to come.

 

So perhaps this might be as good a place to repeat, if "you" are following any sort of course which involves the "arts" then if you have not started building a portfolio then do it now. This portfolio is more valuable than you realise because it will depict how your grasp of your chosen subject has evolved during your course.

 

I trust the proverbial penny has dropped?

[gareth]

I wonder if it's a homework task that they've been set, rather than a genuine need to create an actual portfolio? It did strike me as a little coincidental that 'threedog' and 'shifty' both posted exactly the same question on exactly the same day (although 'shifty's question seems to have been deleted), and that they both attend the same school and are apparently studying the same course ...

[ramdram]

Ref #10. My son was expected to keep all his artwork from the 5th year on.

 

But how much more instruction do you need than keep all your work together so that your increasing skills become evident following practice. The work can then be organised by date/topic/projects/whatever.

 

I got the impression, after reading their profiles, that they were mates (?)...and us old blokes were being taken to task for having the temerity to criticise their written communication skills.

[paulears]

They are, and they were.

 

Personally - if I join a forum with the expectation of actually getting a question I have, answered - then I tend to be polite and to be honest, passive - in the hope that somebody will feel like taking their time to help me. Sadly, this skill is a bit undeveloped in some people. I think it's especially important that Next Gen is a place where basic questions can be asked - so sometimes, us old lags do perhaps jump in and boil off a bit - but equally, a snipey post simple puts off the very people who could perhaps, have helped.

[tomo2607]

Even us young blokes should have enough commen sence to start a portfolio at "the start". I have a folder full of evidence of shows ive worked on, Courses ive studied and copies of the work that I needed to submit dating back to my A levels all the way through to today. I even keep sound and LX designs ive done no matter whether its a pro or school show. It all adds up to show your abilities and gives you enough to look back on for good interview example etc. Plus its good practice to look back over them from time to time and scan for good ideas or rookie mistakes to make sure your next "job" is better than the previous. I wouldnt like to think I still make the same errors I did 3 or 4 years back.

 

 

A few people ive worked with straight out of education think they have done and seen it all, but when it comes down to it they struggle to coil a cable let alone do anything else.

[maxjones2000]

A student of mine recently got into Rose Bruford to study lighting design and he put together an excellent portfolio which included WYSIWYG simulation renderings next to actual performance photo's. This really emphasised his design skills.

 

Sorry if this is OT, but I quite like this idea. Just wondering, which version of WYSIWYG would you need to just design static renderings of the stage and lighting? I'm assuming its WYSIWYG Design, or would it be perform?

 

Thanks,

[gareth]

Design would do that - Perform is only required if you want to hook a lighting desk into WYG so that you can program a virtual rig.